October 24, 2023

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Welcome to my Taipei food guide!

Not sure where to eat in Taipei? Look no further! We recently spent a week in Taipei, my second visit to the city. Before we visited we had an endless list of spots to visit, and discovered so many more delicious Taipei food options along the way. So whether you’re looking for Taipei street food or Michelin star dining, this list has it all.

So let’s dive into where to find the best beef noodles, soup dumplings, fried chicken and more in Taiwan’s capital city.

Things to know before dining in Taipei

• Most menus are only in Mandarin Chinese. Translator apps (photo mode) will be your best friend).
• For ordering, you usually receive a piece of paper or laminated menu and a pen to indicate what you want.
• A lot of places are cash only.
• In most restaurants you either pay immediately when you order or you need to go up to the front desk to pay after the meal.

The best restaurants and street food markets in Taipei

I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite places to eat in Taipei, Taiwan but this list is so far from comprehensive. I swear there is an endless amount of amazing food in this city. You honestly can’t go wrong with most food stalls or restaurants.

Nevertheless, I compiled a list of my favorite places from my 2-week trip to Taiwan.

Before we dive in, here are a few food items you should definitely try while in Taipei:

• XIao Long Bao (soup dumplings)
• Braised Beef Noodle Soup
• Scallion Pancake
• Braised Pork Rice
• Taiwanese Fried Chicken
• Bubble (Boba) Tea
• Fish Ball Soup
• Steamed buns (sweet and savory)
• Radish Cake
• Fresh Soy Milk
• Sweet Potato Balls
• Any traditional sauteed veggies

Gan Mei Alley

Soup dumplings, sauteed greens, bamboo shoots, thick chewy noodles – this is a quality sit-down restaurant with affordable prices. Although they specialize in their crispy soup dumplings, Gan Mei Alley is a great restaurant option if you’re looking for a menu with variety.

Address: No. 130號, Kunming St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108

Tian Jin Onion Pancake

We stopped by this scallion pancake stand on our food tour with LocalTours and it instantly became a core memory of our two weeks in Taiwan. There is usually a line so prepare to wait a bit, but I promise it is worth it.

The pancake is crispy and warm, pairing perfectly with the delicious egg inside. I recommend ordering the basil and adding the sweet sauce.

Address: No. 1號, Lane 6, Yongkang St

Prices: 50 NT ($1.55) for a basic egg pancake

Niu Dian Beef Noodles

This Michelin star restaurant in Ximending is known for one dish – Beef Noodle Soup. You have the choice of all meat, all tendon, or half and half. Otherwise you could also opt for no meat at all or a vegetarian version of the dish.

I skipped the meat myself, but the noodles were so delicious and chilly. Its a meal that embodies a cozy, rainy day.

There is often a wait, so make sure to grab a ticket right when you arrive to get in line. We arrived right before closing and lucked out with no line at all.

Make sure to order a side of cucumbers as well!

Address: No. 91號, Kunming St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108

Prices: 140-300 NT ($4.33-9.29) depending on size and style

讚點-中式美食手作職人

This is a great place to try a local breakfast. We stopped by one morning before a hike and were pleasantly surprised by the selection. You’ll find dumplings, buns, and a variety of scallion egg pancakes.

Make sure to try the traditional soy milk!

Address: No. 196號, Kunming St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108

Prices: 25-50 NT ($0.77-1.55) for everything on the menu

Red Ant Cheap Teppanyaki

Located alongside the Lingjian Night Market, this is a great option if you want a more filling, sit-down dinner. You can choose between options like beef, chicken or shrimp, and they are grilled in front of you Teppanyaki style. Entrees are all served with soup and tons of side veggies.

If you’re planning to eat other things at the market, then I’d recommend sharing a portion. It’s a lot of food1

Address: No. 7號, Linjiang St, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106

Prices: around 100 NT for an order ($3.09)

Formosa Chang Taipei Dongmen Branch

A popular chain restaurant serving the popular Taiwanese dish: pork braised rice. The tender pork is mixed in with a small bowl of rice, served with a delicious sweet sauce.

Address: No. 18號, Section 2, Jinshan S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106

正好鮮肉小籠湯包

Located in an alleyway by Tonghua Night Market, these may have been the best soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) that we ate during our two weeks in Taiwan, and we ate a lot of soup dumplings!

The flavors are so unbelievably delicious, with a tender soupy filling.

There is a usually a line for dinner but it moves fast!

Address: No. 6-1號, Lane 57, Tonghua St, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106

Prices: 130 NT ($4.02) for a tray

Hours: 5-11 PM daily, except Tuesdays

Lao Shandong Homemade Noodles

This was the very first place that we ate in Taipei, so it will probably always have a special place in my heart. Located in a basement food court, this is some of the best Beef Noodle Soup in Taipei. They also make some of the best dumplings, with a thicker skin like bao.

For side dishes you can head to the fridges and pick out what you like. Everything is delicious but I recommend the cucumbers and pickled cabbage.

Address: 108, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Xining Rd, 70號B1之15室

Prices: 200 NT ($6.19) for soup, 30-40 NT for sides (~$1)

Hours: 10:30-9:30PM daily

Din Tai Fung

You’ll likely heard of Din Tai Fung before, with popular locations in the US and abroad, but you might not know that the restaurant is Taiwanese. The restaurant has been quite hyped up over the years, but its honestly worth it.

They are famous for their Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings), but the menu is actually quite extensive. Here is what I would recommend ordering:

• xiao long bao
• cucumber salad
• spicy shrimp and pork wontons
• sauteed cabbage
• beef noodle soup
• eggplant

You can expect a wait, especially on weekends.

Address: various locations in Taipei

Ya Fung Fishball

I’ll be completely honest, before dining at Ya Fung Fishball I didn’t think that I even like fish ball soup. This experience totally changed my mind. The handmade fish balls are so tender and juicy. The wrappers are made from fish paste, and filled with a delicious, tender pork filling.

Make sure to try the sauteed sweet potato leaves and the homemade hot sauce.

Address: No. 1號, Lane 75, Linyi St, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, 100

Prices: 50 NT ($1.55) bowl of fish ball soup + 20NT ($0.62) to add noodles

Where to drink in Taipei

Bar Stardust 星塵

If you’re looking for delicious cocktails in Taipei in the Ximen district, Bar Stardust is a great option. The staff is super great and open to experimenting with new cocktails. Open until 4am daily, it’s a great place for late night drinks in a swanky and eclectic bar.

Address: 10844, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District

Hours: 8PM-4AM daily

Ximen Beer Bar

A huge selection of beers in the Ximen district. A fun place to hangout for a night out in Taipei.

Address: No. 83-2號, Section 2, Wuchang St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Hours: 7PM-2AM Sunday-Thursday, 6PM-2:20AM Friday-Saturday

Best Cafes and Desserts in Taipei

Cho Café

A cozy coffee shop located in Cho Hotel. Slightly higher prices but really great speciality coffee. A great place to hang out for a bit with a book or some work.

Address: No. 113, Kunming St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108

Jing Sheng Yu

A great place to drink traditionally prepared tea from Taiwan. They prepare teas in the traditional manner, with a variety of teas from the High Mountain Area. This is a great places to hang out with friends, since drinking tea in Taiwan in this manner is often done in social settings.

Taiwanese pineapple cake is served to accompany the tea.

You can also purchase loose leaf teas to bring home.

Address: No. 11號, Lane 8, Yongkang St, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106

魚池貳壹-西門店

I’m sure you’ve heard of bubble tea (or boba tea), but did you know that this drink is from Taiwan? If we’re being completely honest, I was never a huge fan of boba tea, and that definitely changed on this trip for me.

You’ll find some many different varieties from creamy and milky to tart and juicy. You usually have a choice between traditional tapioca bubbles or a fruit jelly (I prefer the traditional bubbles).

When ordering, you will need to indicate the percentage of both sugar and ice that you want. Unless you love sweet drinks, 20% sugar is usually enough.

Address: No. 18號, Section 2, Hankou St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108

Prices:

Hours: 9AM-4AM daily

Ximen Mango Shaved Ice

Although shaved ice isn’t originally from Taiwan, it is a popular dessert in Taipei. Prices are a bit high but the shaved ice dessert is huge, filled with delicious ripe mango slices. I recommend trying one to share with some friends.

Address: No. 17號, Hanzhong St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108

Prices: 180-24o NT ($5.50-7.50)

Hours: 10AM-11PM daily

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